Signaling device



May 5, 1931. H. E. PLATT 1-803,1898

Patentecl May 5, 1931 UNITED STATES HAIRRY E. BLATT, OF OT'IUMWA, IOWA SIGNALING DEVICE Applieation filed May 9,

l\Iy invention relates 130 improvements in signaling clevices, ancl it consists in the combinations, constructions, und arrangements herein describecl ancl claimecl.

An object f my invention is to provicle a signaling clevice in Which 1neans is utilizecl whereby a fluicl uncler compression 1nay be controllecl f01 signaling purposes or f01 establishing connnunication between, let us say, inclivicluals at various distances.

A further object is to provicle a clevice of tl1e type described incorpora'uing a 1nini1nu1n nu1nber 0f moving arts, in which tl1e pal"s may be lubricatecl, und in which the arts are further arranged t0 pennit the assage of 21 fluicl therethrough under compression in an eflicient 1nanne1.

A further object is t0 provicle 21. clevice 015 the type clescribed in whicl1 the necessity for packing has been entirely eliminatecl.

A further object is to provicle a clevice of the type clescribecl in which the clanger of accidental operation is eliminatecl.

A further object is to provicle a clevice 0f the type clescribecl in which die arts are so arrangecl filmt shoulcla s1nall leak clevelop, tl1e clevice woulcl nevertheless function effectively.

Other objects anal advantages will appear in the following specification, ancl tlie novel featu1es of the invention Will be particularly pointecl out in the appenclecl clai1ns.

My invention is illustratecl in the accon1- panying clrawings, forming p211t 0f this application, in which Figure l is an encl elevation of my invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention,

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 2, ancl Figure 4 is a sectional view taken the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In carrying out my invention, I make use along of a bocly portion l ha.ving a threacled open ing 2 in one encl and a threaclecl open ing 3 in the opposite encl. The bocly portion is providecl with a pair 0f bores 4 ancl 5 of different diameters communicating with each other und alignecl with the openings 2 1930. Seria1 N0. 451,144.

ancl 3. The opening 2 is arrangecl t0 be paitly closecl by means of a plug 6 having fianges 7 whereby a suitable gasket 01 pa'ck- 1ng 8 may be placed between the flanges and the encl of the bocly portion.

Si1nilarly, the opening 3 may be closecl by means 0f a plug 9. The latter is also proviclecl with fianges as inclicated at 10. I preferably provicle a gasket o1 packing 11 between tl1e flanges and the encl of the bocly portion l. The plug 6 is providecl Wi th a centra.l threacled opening 12 formece1ving the th1eaclecl end of a pipe 13. The latter leacls to a s'ou1ce of fiuid under compres smn preferably compressecl ai1. The dev1ce nmy be situatecl Within the Gab of a lopomotive for giving warnings and trans- 1n1tting communications 130 the engineer. The clevice may of cou1se be employed in other arcs und located at various positions P a.ncl localities for conveying the information, as Will be more fully explainecl late1. I am merely clefining the clevice in connection with signaling to Ehe operator of a locomotive a s a n1atter 0f illustration und 7 clo n0t intencl that tliis shall in1ply any hnntations in the scope 0f my invention.

-The plug 9 is provicled with a threacled opening 14 f01' receiving tl1e threacled end 0'f a p ipe 15. The pipe l' 1nay extend to any desned location aml in tl1e iaresent imstande preferably to tlie rezu of the train. 'llie pipe 15 connnunicates with the b0re 5, while the p1pe 13 communicates with the bore 4. A mlve n1ember 16 is clisposecl within the bores 4 and 5. The valve 1nember is provioled W1fill a triangularly shaped encl portion 17 wlnch nornmlly abuts, against the inner end ot E tl1e plug 6. The Valv'e 1n'e1nber is prov1clacl with a reclucecl portion 18 Which is 90 recta.ngular in *cross section. The valve 7 1ne1nber is further provicled With an enlalgecl en cl portion 19 which is arrangecl to bear aga1nst the shoulcler provided by the bores 4 ancl 5. This end 0f the valve membe r is provicled with an opening 20 I"orrece1v1ng one encl 0f a coil spring 21. The plug 9 in s imilarly providecl with a bore 22 ior recew1ng the opposite end of the coil spring. Tlie -pl 23 about which a portion f the spring is disposed. The end of the enlarged portion 16 is provided with a plurality 0f 1aised portions 241, see Figureg 2 und 4.

A compzinion va1ve member 25 is disposed upon the rectangular portion 18. The companion valve m ember is provic1ed with openings 26 in its sides and an opening 27 Which is arranged t0 align with an opening 28 when the va1ve mechanism is moved, as Will be defined later. The c0rnpanion va1ve member is provided with a spring 29 Which tends t0 hold the companion mlve membexr snugly within its seat 80, see Figure 3 and also f0r compensating f01 any Wem due t0 ehe operation 0f the device. The body portion is p'rovided wit-h a threaded opening 31 f01 receiving one end 0f 21 threaded pipe 32 associated with a whist-1e 33. The whistle may of course be any cme 0'f the many types of constructions weil known in the arc and the whistle theiefore re'quired no detailed description.

1 shall 110W define the operation of the device. Normally, the spring 21 holds the valve mechanism in the osition shown in Figure 2. A certain amm1nt 0f fiuid under compression may pass between the Walls 0f the enlarged portion 16 and the bore ns ab 34 by reason of the fact ahnt the diameter 0'1? the portion 16 is slightly smal1er 0112111 cho bore 5. The fluid undedr prossur'e W111 0f c0urse be balanced upon each side cf tne va1ve mechanism. In other words, th'e fiuid er, let us say, the air under compression is nornmlly balanced upon the 5W0 sides I; Will be readily seen in referring t0 Figure 2 that should any 01 the air nnde1* coinpres- 51011 in the pipe 15 be freed, let us say, t0 the atmosphere, ehe pressure up011 this si.de Of the wdve mechanism Will of c0u1s be reduced. Simultaneously, the pressur-a up0n the opposite side of th'e valve mechanism Will move the htet suddenly so filmt ehe openihg 27 is brought into alignment With the opening 28. At this time t11e ai1 under compression in passing through thepipe 32 will cause the whistle t0 funu-uion.

The valve mechanism Will 05 (3G111'S9 m0ve until che raised portiong 24 strike the inner encf ehe plug 9. The raised poyions pern1it ehe air undercompression to flow ino the pipe 1ine whe'n t116 valve mechanism is dispbsed adjacent the plug 9. This co nstruction permits the air upon both sides of the va1ve mechanis-m t0 assume a common pressure and also pr0vides a constructionin which a 510W 1eak in the pipe 1ine 15 W111 not necesszuily Gause the whist1e t0 function. The spring 21 of course insres the pos} bioning of the valve mechanism as shown 111 Figure 2 whenever the ai1 pressure is bal anced.

An important feature in connection with my invention is the fut that few moving arts am required und also the fact that the constructlon is such filmt I lmve entirely eliminated the necessity f01 internal packing und ehe 1ike.

This construction pern1its the lubrication 0f the various pa1ts. The body ortion is provided with a fiange 35 having openings 36 for receiving bolts OI screws whereby the device may be mounted up0n a suitable supporting structure.

I c1ain1:

l. A signaling device comprising a body Portio'n having a valve mechanism slidably Clisposed berein, an auditory signal communicating with said valve mechanism, and means f01 conveying fluid under pressure t0 the valve mechanism whefeby ehe fluid may assume a common pressure upon both sides of the valve mechanism, said valve mechanism being operab-le by releasing the fluid under pressure upon one side of the mlve mechanism, whereby said auditory signal Will be operated, und comprising a spring-pressed valve body portion and a spring-pressed Ushaped portion, said valve body portion having a cylindrical end porti0n and a triangulzu end portion, said end portion being connected by a rectangular portion said U-shaped portion being 1nounted 0x1 said reet-angular portion, said hollow body portion and szxid U-shaped porti0n having fluid conduits adapted t0 become aligned with euch other and releas-e said fluid f0r operating said signal.

2. A device of ihe type described comprising a 110110W body porti'on, a valve mechan ism, slidably dis13osed wifhin said hollow body portion und arranged 150 be inoved by fluid ui1der compression, flui l-conveying means comnmnicating with the interior 0f' the body portion a1'1d disposed upon opposite sides 01 the valve mechanism, and an auditory signa1 communicating with the inte1ior 0f said body portion, said valve mechahism being arranged t0 be moved when the fiuid 011 0ne side of che va1ve mechanism is partly freed for placing the auditory signal in communication With said fiuid under 00111- pression, und comprising a, spring-pressed va1ve body portion and a spring-pressed U-sl1aped Portion, said U-shaped 1neinber being slidab1y mounted 011 said va1ve b0dy portion, sid hollow b0dy ortion and said U-shaped portion having fluid conduits adapted Eo become aligned with 'each other and release S2L1d fiuid for oprating said sig1ial.

8. A deviceof the type described c0m-.

prising a hollow body ortion, a va1ve mechanism slidably disposed within SEI(1 hollow body ortion comprising a springpressed valve body portion und a springpressed U-shaped p01tion und ar1ahged t0 be moved byfiuid under compression, fiuidconveying means communicating With the 1,soa,sos

interior 0f the body portion and disposed up0n opposite sides 016 the valve mechanism, and an auditory signal communicating with the interior of said body portion, said valve mechanism being arranged t0 be moved when the fiuid 0n one side of the valve mechanism is partly freed for placing the audicory sig- 11a1 in communication with said fluid under compression, said valve mechanism being arranged to assume a predetermined position when the fiuid pressure is balanced upon the opposite sides 0f the valve mechanism said hollow body portion and said U-shaped portion having fiuid conduits adapted to become aligned With each other and release said fluid for operating said signal.

4. A device of the type described comprising a hollow body portion, a valve mechanism slidably disposed Within said hollow body portion und arranged to be moved by fiuid under compression, fluid-conveying means communicating With the interior 0f the body portion und disposed upon opposite sides of the valve mechanism, an auditory signal communicating with the inte1ior v0f said body portion, said valve mechanism being mriu1g@d to be moved when the fluid 011 one side 0f the valve mechanism is partly freed f01 placing the auditory signal in communication with said fluid under compression, said valve mechanism being arranged to assume a predetermined position when the fluid pressure is balanced upon the opposite sides of the valve mechanism, and means f01 returning said valve mechanism to said predetermined osition when the fluid pressure upon both sides of the same is equalized, said valve mechanism comprising a spring-pressed valve body portion and a spring-pressed U-shaped portion, said valve body portion having a cylindrical end portion, {L triangulr end ortion, and a rectangular portion connecting the end portions, said U-shaped portion being slidably mounted 011 said rectangular portion, said hollow portion und said U-shuped ortion having fluid conduits adapted to become aligned Wifll each other und release said fluid f01 operating said signal when the fiuid is partly freed from on side of said mechanism.

Signed at Ottumwa, in the county \Vapello and Stute of Iowa, this 31c1 day 0f May, A. D. 1930.

HARRY E. PLATT. 

